Willis sees promise in scrimmage vs Broadmoor

Although the official score isn’t kept and stats aren’t recorded, Brusly High School football head coach Erik Willis said that he was impressed with the performance of his Panthers as they scrimmaged against the Broadmoor Buccaneers last Thursday night.

In fact, he said that this has been the best his team has looked in a scrimmage since he has been at Brusly High.

“Jaylon Green really stood out to me,” Willis said, adding that he had challenged Green, the senior running back, during his sophomore and junior years to “step it up” all around.

“I told him he needed to really help out his mom more, work harder in school, and just push himself on the field,” Willis said. “He hasn’t disappointed me.”

Willis said that Green broke tackles and made impressive yards during the scrimmage.

He said that playing the 5A Broadmoor team was a big challenge, but he was pleased with both offense and defense.

“The defense really got after them and played well as a unit,” Willis said. “Clay Clopton, the senior linebacker, was our leader on defense.”

Willis said that senior linebacker Austin Watts also stood out as a defensive leader.

Special teams was a pleasant surprise for the Panthers coaching staff, according to Willis, as senior Connor Clouatre, who had never played football before this season, showed that he had what it took to make kicks at both the punter and field goal kicker positions.

“Connor said he could kick,” Willis said. “So we put him out there and sure enough, he did what he needed to do.”

I’m excited about this defense and the quarterback battle,” Willis said. “We’re still a young team, but we are looking better every day.”

Next up for the Panthers is the junior varsity jamboree against Live Oak this Thursday at 7:00 pm. The varsity jamboree will be this Friday at 6:30 pm, both games at the BHS football stadium. Pre-sale tickets are available at BHS for $5. They will be $7 at the gate on game day.